Illinois Tourism & Travel

Crazy About Travel

5 Holiday Travel Tips To Manage Your Mane

Can you believe it? The holiday season is upon us. After living more than a year in a global pandemic, this may be the first time many of us are traveling to see friends and family in quite some time. Since we’ve all spent more time at home than ever before, we might be a bit out of practice when it comes to taking care of our hair on the road. I know at my business Transitions Hair Solutions, many of our clients are scheduling services in preparation of their holiday plans. If you’re planning to travel this holiday season, below are some of my 5 best hair care tips! 

Wash before leaving

If you’re traveling for the holiday season, I always recommend to my clients that they wash their hair the day before departure. This is because you want to avoid having wet or damp hair that can attract dust and other pollution. Yeah, that’s right — going through the airport with damp hair can attract dust to your head. So, make sure you’re washed and dry before catching that flight. You should also travel with a small brush, pick, or comb to avoid tangling during travel. Keep one in your purse or carry-on luggage where it’s easily accessible, especially if you’re making lots of connections. How often you need to run the comb or brush through your hair will depend on your hair type and what kind of style you’re traveling with.

Book colors and cuts in advance 

If you want a fresh cut or color for the holiday season, make sure to get on your stylist’s schedule asap. It’s a busy time and schedules fill up quickly. 

Having a new color or cut is a great way to feel good for the season. 

Also, if you’re getting a color, you’ll want to make sure to book an expert colorist. One of the biggest risk factors with color is breakage, which is something you want to avoid during the cooler winter months, especially if you’re traveling. If you get a new color, we recommend a good protectant. My clients love the CRLab Biphasic Fluid Spray .

Pack moisturizing shampoo and conditioner

If you’re traveling during the colder months around the holiday season, packing a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner to keep your hair hydrated is surely a must. Airplane travel can be drying to the hair. We always advise clients to use a sulfate-free moisturizing or conditioning shampoo whenever possible. This is because sulfates in shampoo can cause excess drying and make the hair appear dull. 

Use protective products 

Having some go-to protective products handy while on the road or in the skies is a great idea. Keep your favorite leave-in conditioner handy, a detangling or protective spray. These products will help you to maintain moisture balance in the hair. When in drier than normal conditions you want to form a protective barrier around the hair follicle, especially if you’re in a situation where you can’t condition your hair as regularly as normal. These kinds of products can also help you detangle allowing easy combing through the hair resulting in the reduction of split ends.

Try ponytails, buns, or braids

Traveling for the holiday season is a great time to try different styles for convenience such as ponytails, messy buns, or braids when your access to hair styling tools is limited tools or you’re short on time making it from point A to point B. Invest in some cute clips, combs, or friction free ponytail holders. Utilizing these styles will also help lessen the need to use heat on your hair. We also love headbands or headscarves, which are very on trend. They can also help mask any thinning or problem areas you don’t have time to deal with while you’re traveling. Scarfs and hats can also protect your hair from dirt, dust, and dryness in the airport, on the plane, bus or train. 

The most important thing during this holiday travel season is to have fun. After what we’ve all collectively been through, we deserve some quality leisure travel. Having a manageable hairstyle that helps us feel good is just part of it. Hope you find these tips helpful; you can always reach me with questions at TransitionsHairSolutions.com